Special Powers Act, 1974

The act was passed in 1974 to replace the Security Act of Pakistan 1952, the Public Safety Ordinance of 1958 and the Bangladesh Collaborators (Special Tribunals) Order, 1972. The law targets smuggling, hoarding, and damaging actions. The Awami League was criticised for passing the law. The law was opposed by Ataur Rahman Khan and Abdus Sattar. Sheikh Hasina called for its removal but after becoming prime minister called it useful. The High Court Division ordered the police to stop using the section since it was removed through an act of parliament. In December 2020, Bangladesh Police charged four persons under the act for vandalizing a statue of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. In 2022, the government was asked to use the act to take action against food hoarding by traders. == Criticism ==

In 2022, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has called for the repeal of the Special Powers Act, along with the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009, and the Digital Security Act, 2018. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party has also demanded for the removal of the law. An editorial in the Daily Star described the act as "draconian", used by governments to harass their political opponents. Human Rights Watch has similarly urged the government to repeal the law, citing serious human right concerns. ==References==